Christmas Gifts #1

By Eliot, on December 1st, 2011

I always feel nostalgic around the holidays (as does everyone). I really miss being able to discuss recipes with my grandmother. I think she would be pleased that I inherited the old cookbooks and are giving them a once over.

On a cold winter day earlier this year, we were snowed in so I decided to bake. I had these old cookbooks strewn across the floor while I was working on another project so I went digging through them for cookie recipes. In “The Cookie Jar” section of my Grandmother’s 1959 Farm Journal’s Country Cookbook I found a recipe for “Butterscotch Drops.”

Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs one at a time and beat until incorporated. Add vanilla and buttermilk.

In another bowl, whisk together flour, soda and salt. Carefully add to mixture (about 1/2 cup at a time) mixing after each addition.

Drop by teaspoonfuls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silpat (or a greased cookie sheet). Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Makes 6 dozen cookies.

If I had had sanding sugar or raw sugar, I would have sprinkled them for a more festive holiday cookie. Alas, I could not find any in the pantry. (And, did you know that you can by buttermilk in the small half pint containers now? They are the perfect size—no more wasting a full quart of buttermilk.)

I used a light brown sugar instead of dark (again, because that is all I had on hand).

These are a really chewy cookie and are perfect with a good cup of coffee. The taste is somewhere between a maple bar and a butterscotch candy. For a great gift, place a half-dozen cookies in cellophane bag, tie it with a pretty ribbon and pair them with a package of good quality coffee beans (locally roasted, if possible).

As the month goes by, I hope to highlight recipes that would make great “Gifts from the Kitchen.”

(I also bought myself a birthday present last month—a portable foodie photo studio. I have only used it one other time but I think I am liking the results. I may have to keep it set up for quick snapping.)

10 comments to Christmas Gifts #1

Oh, these sound fabulous! I’m going to pin them. Your coffee looks so upscale and the beans just are so pretty. Kinda feels weird to call coffee beans pretty but they are shining! I want to hear more about the photo studio. Is that like a box with no top and no front? Can we see it? Where did you get it?

Soft, chewy cookies are my favorite…and butterscotch is a favorite flavor, so these are a must for me I guess 🙂

I can empathize with your wish to be able to talk to your grandmother about your baking…I still make the two cookie recipes that my grandmother always made at Christmas, and she has been gone more than 30 years. But I know she would be very happy that I’ve continued the tradition.